In their day, Camper Van Beethoven were ahead of their time. During the second half of the ’80s, the California band offered an in-your-eye whimsy that anticipated the faux-naif sincerity that’s a hallmark of the McSweeney’s sect—the title of this career sampler even recalls Dave Eggers’s debut memoir. Their multicultural music leaned heavily on Balkan folk songs, in advance of current bands like Gogol Bordello and Beirut. And long before Arcade Fire, CVB even had a violin simulating lead-guitar lines. Unfortunately, this Popular Songs comes along in our day, and while a wobbly rhythm section once felt indie and “authentic,” it now feels sloppy and suburban. Five songs the band recently rerecorded (Virgin wouldn’t let them use the original tracks) show how far they, and we, have come.

DOWNLOAD “Take the Skinheads Bowling”